¿Quién eres?
The English phrase 'who are you?' is translated into Spanish as ¿Quién eres?
You can also use ¿Quién es? to ask 'Who is it?' or 'Who is at the door?' when clarifying a presence during phone conversations or when someone is at the door.
Which one should you use?
Use the plural form ¿Quiénes son ustedes? when asking 'who are you?' to a group of people.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin American countries like Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, it is common to use the informal phrase ¿Quién sos? instead of ¿Quién eres?
Did you know?
- The verb form eres is actually a linguistic relic from the Latin future tense, specifically from the word eris, meaning 'you will be'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking ¿Quién eres? directly to a stranger can be perceived as aggressive or confrontational rather than a simple inquiry.
- In certain formal or legal contexts, the phrase ¿Quién es usted? is used to establish a person's official standing or rank, not just their name.
Examples in context
- Perdón, ¿quién eres?Excuse me, who are you?
- No te conozco, ¿quién eres?I don't know you, who are you?
Example conversation
Two students meet for the first time at a party.
- DanielHola, no te conozco. ¿Quién eres?Hi, I don't know you. Who are you?
- LucíaSoy Lucía, la amiga de Ana.I am Lucía, Ana's friend.
- DanielMucho gusto, Lucía. Soy Daniel.Nice to meet you, Lucía. I am Daniel.
- LucíaIgualmente, Daniel.Likewise, Daniel.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries eres, quién, CC BY-SA 4.0.
